West Bengal Lockdown 4 Guidelines: Mamata Banerjee said masks should be made part of life. (File)
Private offices, including those in shopping malls, can operate with 50 per cent strength on alternate days, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday, announcing guidelines for coronavirus Lockdown 4. Salons and beauty parlours can function in the state but same tools cannot be used on more than six people without disinfecting them.
Hotels can be opened in Bengal but with strict social distancing in place. Inter-district buses will be allowed. Sports is permitted but no gathering of spectators can take place, she said.
"We are not declaring curfew, but the lockdown will continue till May 31. We don't like the word curfew particularly," she said.
All big shops will open from May 21, she said, and the hawkers' market will open from May 27 every alternate day.
Containment zones in Bengal will be sub-divided into three zones: Zone A- affected zone, Zone B- buffer zone, Zone C- clean zone.
"We have to learn to help each other... we will have to sanitise everything we use," Ms Banerjee added.
Ms Banerjee said social distancing should be strictly followed and masks should be made part of life.
"We have to make wearing masks part of our lives. It is a sign of respect to others," she said.
On the migrant crisis, she said her government is paying fares for their travel to home states.
"We are bringing back the migrant workers. We are paying fares and taking care of all costs," she adds.
"Some two/three lakh people have come via buses, trains. This is not the time to do politics now. Those who are coming to the border have to provide full information so that we can keep a track," she added.
States and union territories cannot dilute restrictions despite widespread relaxations, the central government said today, as India went into lockdown 4 to fight coronavirus.
The home ministry has asserted that states and union territories are allowed to ban other activities and impose more restrictions, if needed.
"As emphasized in my earlier letters, I would not like to reiterate again that States/Union Territories cannot dilute restrictions imposed in the home ministry guidelines. Based on their assessment of the situation, they may prohibit certain other activities in various zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary," Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said in the letter.
